Dhaka, 22 February (HS): Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Mohammad Babul Mia was beaten to death yesterday afternoon at around 1.30 pm in Dhamrai Upazila of Bangladesh's capital Dhaka. When the killers were not satisfied with this, they gouged out both his eyes. The reason for the murder is said to be business rivalry.

According to The Daily Star, some people armed with sticks beat Mohammad Babul Mia, former vice president of BNP's Kulla Union unit, to death in Boro Kushiyara village of Dhamrai Upazila. Grief-stricken wife Yasmin Begum said that her husband had to go to jail many times due to BNP politics. For some time, there was a dispute with the villagers regarding the real estate (Aksharnagar Housing) business. Due to this dispute, Afsar, Arshad and Monir were threatening both of us for many days.

She said that she and her husband were harvesting mustard near Akshirnagar Housing. Suddenly Afsar, Arshad, Monir along with some companions arrived. They surrounded her husband and started beating him with sticks and iron rods. They also gouged out both his eyes while leaving him bleeding. After this, Babul was taken to Savar Enam Medical College Hospital. Doctors declared him dead.

Villagers claimed that Babul was having a dispute with Afsar, Arshad and Monir over the ownership of a pond. This could be the main reason for the murder. Dhamrai Police Station Officer Monirul Islam said that primary investigation shows that Babul was murdered over land dispute. Efforts are being made to arrest the culprits.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar